Killer Bee Warning

Killer bees earned their name by the characteristics of easily agitating and aggressively swarming, killing a victim by overpowering them with sheer numbers and hundreds of stings.


Unlike the common honey bee, it is not unusual for something as simple as a vibration, noise, or even the smell of fresh cut lawn to set off a swarm of killer bees. Once agitated, killer bees can chase a fleeing victim for up to a quarter of a mile (half a kilometer). If the victim jumps into a body of water, the bees will swarm over the surface, waiting for the victim to come up for air. Killer bees have killed both animals and people.


Killer bees look virtually identical to the common honey bee, which is not native to the United States but was imported from Europe by settlers for honey. European honey bees are comparatively docile, more discriminating than killer bees about where they choose to nest, and produce more honey.

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Swarms of bees keep experts busy

Experts are warning about an increase in bee swarms, spurred by the Valley's wet winter.


Firefighters said calls about swarms in public places such as schools and parks have jumped in many cities, from the East to the West Valley. Goodyear saw the biggest spike in the first six months of the year: 59 calls, up from 18 during the same period last year.

"It can happen anywhere at any time," he said.

He said he has seen the largest increase in calls since he opened his Valley-wide bee exterminating business in 1993. Calls this year have increased by 30 percent over last year, which itself had been a record year.

What we're finding is these colonies of killer bees, African honeybees, are invading structures at an alarming rate,"



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"Killer" Bees Sting 84-Year-Old Man 1,000 Times in Green Valley

1957: Scientists in Brazil accidentally loose 26 African Honey Bee queens into the wild.

2009: Arizonans suffer attacks by swarms of "killer" bees.

The 84-year-old, legally blind man was stung about 1,000 times in an attack on Thursday. Pool's dog died from about 200 stings, says KTAR [92.3 FM]. Pool told the radio station he was walking his dog near his home when some bees began buzzing around him. Suddenly, hundreds zeroed in on the pair. He's expected to fully recover.


blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com...

Killer bees discovered in Utah

After years of warning, they're finally here. Africanized bees, known as killer bees, have been discovered in southern Utah

Africanized killer bees look the same as our European honeybees. The only real noticeable difference is their vicious behavior. When disturbed, their relentless attack can be deadly.

Experts say if you happen to come across a colony of killer bees, keep your distance and walk away quietly. Make sure your home is not bee-friendly by cleaning up your property and closing holes and hollow spaces.

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30,000 killer bees swarm in Florida

"About 80 to 85 percent of wild bees in Southwest Florida, in south Florida, are now considered to be Africanized," he said.

"They show no mercy they come at you. They come in swarms and cover you with so many bites, you could wind up hospitalized or dead," said Leak.

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What’s alarming is we have lost the honey bees to an unknown cause. Although it’s good that the African Bees are pollinating our crops there is a nasty consequence.


They are killer Africanized Honey Bees. They are rapidly increasing and have now reached most states. Ive yet to see a remedy or emergency instructions that give advice on how to prevent an attack or what to do if we are attacked.

As we see in the video water doesn’t work and we are encouraged not to spray them with Bee killer. If we jump in a lake they will be there waiting for us to re-surface. We are to call a Bee remover specialist; however that would be difficult under attack.

Man, thats crazy. I don't even think I've been stung once. Can't imagine getting stung 1000 times at once. What are we going to have to do? What is their natural predator. Or do we just call the bee exterminator.

reply to post by Trams


Yes it is crazy. It makes me want to keep a can of Raid in my purse but that might just tick them off worse.

I'm not sure Bee's have a predator but I'm not a Bee expert. I know Bats eat mosquitos.

I can't imagine what the pain must be like to be stung that many times. I was searching for a thread on bee sings. I stepped on a bee at 6:00pm this evening when I went out barefooted to check on the kids playing outside and it is now almost 12:00 midnite and my foot hurts just as bad as it did when I first got stung in the evening.
I searched the web for home remedies and used the toothpaste and ice, meat tenderizer and vinegar, soda and vinegar, honey, peanut butter, benedryl, so far... Nothing worked.
I have heard alot about the "killer" bee and have seen movies on them. I hope there are not any here. This bee that stung me was just an ordinary honeybee, which had the misfortune of getting stepped on and is now dead.
I told the kids to be sure to put their sandals on before going outside tomorrow. It is very painful and that was just one little bee sting!!!

reply to post by moonwize


It's funny,, some of those home remedies like meat tenderizer. I wonder if you got the stinger out. I know wasps hurt a long time. I dont want another of those. I think they can sting more than once.